Clap Along To New Fitz And The Tantrums

Fitz And The Tantrums gave us "The Walker", a ditty that exceeded the recommended daily amount of catchy. The LA tribe has returned, and in fine fettle I might add. "HandClap" presents the music listening public with laid back raw entertainment on a massive scale. So which part of this track would bring ear to ear grin to your subconscious the most? So many choices to pick from. Joseph Karnes makes a stellar case for his bass guitar commanding the lion's share of applause worthy moments. It makes the song so cool you'd wonder if it was composed on an ice block. The singalong worthy title gets its juice from the prolific clapping going on. Then we might consider the segment where Jeremy Ruzumna demands the ball on keyboards and subsequently gets it. The passage I'm referring to starts with "Every night when the stars come out am I the only living soul around?" Bass takes a holiday. Keyboards gliding on down the rhythm oriented highway. What a luscious ride, like an airplane easing into the speed race right before take off. This type of track has the sheen to cut across all multi-generational biases and boundaries. Whether you're 8 or 88 you'll find something to like about "HandClap". It embraces the good life in the eyes of one young cosmopolitan and the myriad possibilities that entails. In truth, the only downside to the song is the video's organic construction doesn't live up to the song's playfulness. But, with so much easygoing joviality on the table that's a very minute sticking point. The words themselves are flush with effervescence. The chords stay in a manageable range. That is to say, not much brain strain is needed to follow where the key notes lead. Michael Fitzpatrick excels in his role as man on the town/vocalist at large. Extremely easy octave to follow. Then again Fitz and the Tantrums does what any pro ball club worth its salt does in order to achieve excellence...it leaves its entire game out on the floor. This band does what's necessary to leave a favorable impression in the ears of listeners, albeit with a lot less in your face sass than was summoned up for "The Walker". "HandClap" relies on the titular percussion to grease the wheels to a favorable conclusion. Michael espouses the virtues of the woman in his life in flowing terms, in four different ways no less...a drug, luxury, sugar, and gold. No wedding band you say? Why not? Sounds like a lot of highly frosted praise going a long way towards picking out china patterns. Does lack of someone whistling hurt "HandClap"? No, and that's because "HandClap" gets its jollies following a unique, stripped bare vantage view of its own that achieves a similar, no less compelling effect. John Wicks weighs in with percussion but he's sort of a background day player by comparison to the contribution of his fellow band mates. Feel free to turn the car radio up to maximum octane when this comes on. "HandClap" merits a round of applause for helping the distraught keep their blues at bay.